December 2014 Letter from the president: Happy holidays! I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. It’s hard to believe it’s December already- the busiest time of year for so many harpists. As usual, there is a wonderful array of concerts that our members are involved in this season. Be sure to check the calendar below for details. How exciting that, thanks to Gwen Lyons Baker, we now have a music store closer to our area that will stock some harp supplies! See Bits and Pieces for details. If you do a lot of holiday shopping online and want to donate to the American Harp Society, check out the home page of the AHS (http://www.harpsociety.org). You can find a link there to shop at Amazon Smile, which will then make a donation to AHS. Best wishes to everyone for a joyful, not too chaotic, music-filled holiday season! Catherine

President Catherine Case VP Robin Purchas Sec. Joyce Rice Treas. Clara Frederickson Membership Melissa Walsh & Patti Warden Website Marinda Misra

Ex Officio Judith Cummings and Susi Hussong

BITS AND PIECES 1. Pat Jaeger and Vanderbilt 2. Cynthiaʼs new email address 3. Harp Spectrumʼs two new articles 4. Harp and clarinet premiere 5. Judith Cummings, how did you start the harp? 6. Redmond music store now has harp stuff! 7. Harp Talk Radio Series 8. Celebrating Bachʼs 330th birthday 9. Correction to orchestra harpists list 10. Another world premiere but with two harps. (Back page: New Yorker article on Israeli harpist Sivan Magen)

The monthly newsletter of the Greater Seattle Chapter of the American Harp Society, Joyce Rice, Editor Website: www.ahsseattle.org Facebook group: Seattle AHS Chapter

1. Pat Jaeger announces that her Herald Music (TM) harp arrangement publications will now be distributed by Vanderbilt Music Inc. in Bloomington, Indiana. Congratulations, Pat! 2. Cynthia Kuni is now at crkuni@hotmail.com. 3. Harp Spectrum, your hometown website all about the harp, has two interesting new articles on gilding and care for your gold harp. http://www.harpspectrum.org/ Soon I will be updating the summer camps list - keep an eye out. In fact, you might check the current (2014) list as some, like Interlochen and Tanglewood, close registration very early before my list has been completed. 4. Composer Tim Huling on his new work to be premiered on Whidbey January 17-18: It's actually a piece featuring harp and clarinet. Otherwise, the work is composed for the same ensemble as the original orchestration of Copland's Appalachian Spring. In fact, similar to Appalachian Spring, the work is titled "The American Northwest" and is a tone poem on the natural world of the Pacific NW. The work has three movements: I. Waters and Waterways, II. Birdcalls, III. Rainier: The Mountain, and Summiting I've known John (Carrington) and Jennifer (Nelson) over the years from my work as a composer of music for media and music for the concert hall, as an orchestrator of music for media, and as a teacher. We've spent many hours in the recording studio together! It has always been a delight to work with them and their talents, so this project is a real joy. This is the first work I've written for the Saratoga Orchestra and Anna Edwards; of course I'm thrilled to see them premiering a new work. 5. Former chapter president Judith Cummings, how did you start the harp?

I was brought up in Scotland and started violin at 7 and clarinet at 10. Amazingly, there were free one-on-one lessons at public school – but not harp lessons. It never occurred to me to play the harp because it didn’t seem like something that “ordinary” people did. When I was 12, I read a historical book called, “The Shield Ring” by Rosemary Sutcliff that was about Vikings living in the English Lake District. They had a bard who played a wire-strung harp and I was hooked by the description of the bard painting pictures with his music and mesmerising his audience. I wanted to do that! I pestered my parents until finally my mum got some

plans and made a knee-harp for my 15th birthday. Three years later, I auditioned at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music with viola as my major but they let me in as a harp major, even although I’d never played pedal harp before. After graduating, I spent 2 years doing postgrad in London with BBC Symphony harpist, Sioned Williams. I never really did play wire-strung harp (I hate having long nails!) but still love the sound of it and the idea of mesmerising the audience with music. 6. Gwen Lyons Baker informs me that she has been working with the Music and Arts store (formerly Mills Music), 16611 Redmond Way in Redmond, and they are now carrying a full line of Bow Brand strings to fit an 85 CG. She’s going to train a couple of people at the store to change harp strings, so if any of you are nervous about doing it you can take your harp there and get it done. She hopes they will soon have tuners and tuning keys. As well, they now have some music including Sylvia Woods’ new arrangement of music from Disney’s “Frozen”. If there are titles you would like them to carry, let them know at 425-881-8777. Gwen said theyʼre willing to order music for you, too. She has a studio at the store. She says, “They will stock music on a regular basis. Also, they are interested in hosting the harp adjudications. My pedal and troubadour are already there and could be used for the adjudications. They will carry pretty much all of Sylvia Woods publications, because she just keeps sending them. They will also carry the Naderman, Dussek, and Rossini sonatas as well as the Dussek Sonatinas. They will carry a selection of Kim Robertsonʼs publications and Deborah Friouʼs,

as well. They will have Salzedo's Conditioning Exercises (one of my favorite exercise books). The rest is a bit eclectic and depends on what music Lyon and Healy sends or just select solos for Meg Mann and me for teaching. Meg has joined me at the Redmond store studio. There's room and students for another teacher, too, if anyone is interested.” 7. Check out the Harp Talk Radio Series. The latest one is with 2009-2011 AHS Concert Artist Heidi van Hoesen Gorton, Principal Harp of the Toronto Symphony. Previous talks are with Sue Richards, Louise Trotter, Deborah Henson-Conant, Ismael Ledesma (Paraguayan harpist), Barbara Bailey Bradley, Sadie Turner, Christa Grix, Alfredo Ortiz and more. These are audio only, about 10 minutes. 8. “Bach in the Subways Days” sent this: Saturday, March 21, 2015 is Johann Sebastian Bachʼs 330th birthday! What will you be doing to celebrate? We will be performing Bachʼs music for free in subways & public spaces around the world to generate public interest and excitement for our art form and to sow the seeds for future generations of classical music lovers. Join us! Itʼs easy! Simply find a well-trafficked public space (doesnʼt have to be a subway) and make sure you have permission to perform there – weʼll provide promotional materials and help with publicity. Flashmobs, marathons and other creative musical scenarios are encouraged! VIEW MEDIA and COVERAGE of previous Bach in the Subways Days on OUR WEBSITE at http://bachinthesubways.com/press/ FAQʼs: http://bachinthesubways.com/frequently-asked-questions/ 9. Karen Southworth Weaver says: Please be advised that “Everett Symphony Orchestra” [which was on my list of orchestras with or without harpists] no longer exists, as its board of directors disbanded the orchestra in 2010. Fortunately, the musicians and conductor immediately formed a new group – the Everett Philharmonic Orchestra – which continues to go strong.” Karen is principal harpist of the EPO. 10. Mary Frank and Kathy Conway will be the two harpists December 7 in the world premiere for a piece for choir, two harps and mezzo-soprano, Magnificat by local composer and conductor Nathan Jensen. See calendar for details.

CALENDAR (Chapter membersʼ names are in bold.)

November 25 – December 30, 2014 Catherine Case is in the pit again for the run of A Christmas Story, The Musica l at the 5th Avenue Theater. The show started here then went to New York, and now has returned. It’s 1939 Indiana, where a bespectacled boy named Ralphie has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas—a Red Ryder BB Gun. A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a cranky department store Santa and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream. www.5thavenue.org/show/a-christmas-story-the-musical November 28-December 28 John Carrington will be back in the pit for The Nutcracker by the Pacific Northwest Ballet. This is the final year for the Maurice Sendak/Kent Stowell version running since 1983 before PNB switches to the Balanchine version. December 4-6 at 8:00, December 7 at 5:00. Now I'm Fine. Comedian/musician/captivating storyteller Ahamefule Oluo leads a team of talented musicians, including Monica Schley on harp, in a grand-scale experimental pop opera about keeping it together. "...a master storyteller who has somehow managed to cram approximately 56 tragic, awkward, hilarious, blistering lifetimes into his 30-odd years." - The Stranger. Merrill Wright Mainstage Theater, On the Boards. $23 | $25 week of show • Buy tickets.

Saturday, December 6 7 p.m. The Northwest Youth Harp Ensemble (13 harpists this year) will perform its holiday Concert at the Ballard First Lutheran Church. 2006 NW 65th St. (20th and 65th). Susi Hussong directs. Free. Sunday, December 7 2:00. Premiere of Magnificat” by Nathan Jensen for choir, two harps played by Mary Frank and Kathy Conway, and mezzo-soprano. Also harp duos of French carols. St. John United Lutheran Church, 5515 Phinney Ave. W., Seattle. Sunday, December 7 3:00PM. Carillon English Handbells and Three Harps. Music arranged or composed by Mark Andersen for English Handbells, Harps, Flutes and Strings. Thirteenth Church of Christ, Scientist, 3500 NE 125th St. Seattle, WA. Saturday, December 13 at 2:30 p.m. The Northwest Youth Harp Ensemble (13 harpists this year) will perform its holiday Concert at the Ballard Public Library 5614 22nd Ave. NW (22nd and 56th). Susi Hussong directs. Free. Saturday, December 13 at 7:30, and Sunday, December 14 at 2:00. Patti Warden will accompany the Skagit Valley Chorale in their presentation of selections from Ceremony of Carols, as well as Conrad Susaʼs Carols and Lullabies. Concerts are in McIntyre Hall at Skagit Valley College. Saturday, December 13 7:00 PM Christmas Harp and Piano Concert with the KosakaBoys. Free Admission. Timmy and Jonny Kosaka will be playing Christmas harp and piano selections. Transformation Life Center, 1717 Eskridge Blvd SE, Olympia. Sunday, December 14, 7:00 pm. Christmas Harp and Piano Concert with the KosakaBoys. Free Admission. Timmy and Jonny Kosaka will be playing Christmas harp and piano selections at Lakeridge Lutheran Church, 7465 S 112th St., Seattle. Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14, 7 pm. Ruthann Ritchie plays in "Holiday Concerts", a varied program including harp/oboe/percussion and harp and handbells, all with choir. Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church, Gig Harbor, WA Sunday, December 14 10:30 am. Patti Warden will be accompanying the choir at the Kirkland Unitarian Universalist congregation in their presentation of Susaʼs Carols and Lullabies. Sunday, December 14 3:00PM. Carillon English Handbells and Three Harps. Mark Andersen conducts. Festival of the Nativities, 15257 SE 28th St. Bellevue, WA Tuesday, December 16 12:00 Noon. Carillon English Handbells and Three Harps. Mark Andersen conducts. Daniels Recital Hall, 811 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA Friday, December 19 7:00 - 7:30PM Take a magical stroll through a botanical garden. Krukenberg Botanical Garden is hosting a Solstice Stroll through their forest wonderland - LED lights strung on trees, sipping hot cider and Monica Schley playing harp under covering in a meadow. Gnomes live here! Family friendly. 20312 15th Ave NW, Shoreline, WA 98177. Itʼs FREE - but you need to register in advance for a slot here Saturday, December 20, 12:30-1:30 pm. The big band MoodSwings, including Carol Levin on harp, will play at Seattle Centerʼs Winterfest in the Armory (formerly known as Center House). Bring your dancing shoes! Saturday, December 20 7:00 - 8:00PM. "Harp Carols" Concert. "Harp Carols" by Monica Schley is a self-produced CD celebrating Europe's music of 15th-19th century holiday season. Songs like “Lo, How a Rose” “Carol of the Bells” and “Greensleeves” will transport you to a place of ancient calm.

Sheʼll be playing from this Christmas album as well as new original songs for harp + voice. East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle, WA. $15. Harp Carols CD is available at http://monicaschley.bandcamp.com. Sunday, December 21 9:15 and 11:00. Patti Warden will accompany the choir of the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist congregation in Susaʼs Carols and Lullabies. Sunday, December 21 2:00PM. Carillon English Handbells and Three Harps. Mark Andersen conducts. Resurrection Lutheran Church, 134 S. 206th St., Des Moines, WA. Tuesday, December 23 7:30 John Carrington plays with the Northwest Boychoir in “Lessons and Carols”. Benaroya Hall. Tickets at www.seattlesymphony.org/symphony/buy/single/production.aspx?id=15729&src=t&dateid=15729 Wednesday, December 24 8:00PM. Carillon English Handbells and Three Harps. Mark Andersen conducts. Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, 10005 32nd Ave, NE, Seattle, WA Saturday, January 17, 7:30 John Carrington, harp and Jennifer Nelson, clarinet, in the world premiere of a new commission, "The American Northwest" for harp and clarinet with chamber orchestra by Tim Huling. It will be performed by the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley, WA. Tickets are $20-25. Complimentary for youth under 18. More at http://www.sowhidbey.com/chamber-concert---january-17--18.html Sunday, January 18 2:30 John Carrington, harp and Jennifer Nelson, clarinet, in the world premiere of a new commission, "The American Northwest" for harp and clarinet with chamber orchestra by Tim Huling. It will be performed by the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra at Nordic Hall in Coupeville. See above for ticket information. Saturday, February 7 and Saturday, March 7 Our annual adjudications will be led by Bethany Man. Please put the dates on your calendars. Week of February 9 Steve Moss will be here for regulations. Reserve a spot with Susi Hussong. Sunday, May 3 Spring chapter meeting. Scholarship winners announced. Please come and play! June 11-14, 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Pop Harp Weekend. One, two and three-day intensive courses to expand skills and enable you to play pop and jazz harp. Three levels in lever and pedal tracks.

CLASSIFIEDS PEDAL HARPS

For sale: Salvi Daphne 44, No. 13115. Built 2005. This beautiful natural-colored pedal harp is perfect for young students as well as for adults. It is ideal if space is at a premium but a pedal harp is desired. It comes with a matching bench and 3-piece padded cover. Located in Vancouver, BC, and asking price is $9.600 USD, $10,900 CAD (new lower price). For more information, please contact Susie Spiwak at sspiwak@earthlink.net or phone 415-999-4698. See photos at http://bacharp.org/classified-ads/

For sale: Lyon & Healy gold style 23 concert grand pedal harp. Classic harp with excellent tone quality, in good condition. Just regulated in May with new wires & strings. Technician report and photos available. Made in 1955. Comes with canvas cover and tuning key. $15,000 (new new lower price). mstromquist@comcast.net.

For sale: Lyon & Healy Style 22 Gold Concert Grand. Extended board with 46 strings made in 1930. For someone who recognizes the potential value as it needs major work due to structural issues. Has a newer neck that is reasonably straight but would need re-riveting. Technician assessment and pictures available. Located in Seattle. $6,000 (new lower price). mstromquist@comcast.net For sale: Lyon & Healy 17 Gold. Rebuilt at the Lyon & Healy factory in 1996, this harp has been completely refurbished. It was fitted with a new neck. Regulation and rewire were done in November 2011. The harp was built in 1923, when Lyon & Healy was doing particularly fine work. Like other harps from this period, it has an exceptionally rich, warm and clear tone. $18,200. hildegardgreen2010@gmail.com or 206-973-7037. For sale: 1918 Lyon & Healy Style 17 Gold. Serial number, pictures and price upon request. Serious inquiries, only please. The harp was refurbished with a new neck in 1999 and includes the wooden trunk. 425-445-0205. For rent: 85CG circa 1988 that is a very satisfying instrument to play and practice due to its wonderful sound. $150 per month. Fairly recent regulation and new bass wires. Includes cover and harp cart. Contact Mary Frank at frank.mary@comcast.net. For rent: Walnut L&H 23. Wonderful sound. Concert grand harp with 47 strings, it comes with a 3-piece transport cover. $150 per month plus tax. Contact Marian Sussman at 206-290-8192 or at harpnote@gmail.com. For rent: Venus Traditional harp. Oversize semi-grand, almost as large as a grand with extended board and 46 strings. Big sound with concert grand string spacing, floral carving and a high gloss natural maple finish. $125 plus tax. Contact Marian Sussman at 206-290-8192 or at harpnote@gmail.com.. LEVER HARPS For sale: Triplett Christina with cover, strap, and lap bar. The harp is 7 years old, and in excellent condition. Asking $1250. Alishia Joubert, henzeharper@gmail.com. For sale: 32 string Camac Aziliz for sale, including case and stand. It is in cherry wood, has gut and metal strings, and a lovely resonant voice. $3200 or best offer (new lower price). Judith Lipton at drlipton@gmail.com or 425-869-2990 or 425-922-3184. For sale: Triplett lap harp, 22 strings, full levers, full set of new strings, case, tuning key. $800 or best offer (new lower price). Judith Lipton at drlipton@gmail.com or 425-869-2990 or 425-922-3184. For sale: Kailey 3 Folk Harp made by Philip Boulding. It's about 12 years old, 36 strings, 5 octave range from Low C. Leverless but there is space to have the levers installed. This beautiful harp stands 52" tall and is made of maple. It comes with a deluxe padded cover for travel and tuning key. Excellent conditon and mellow sound. Reduction in price is now $1550.00. Please call Arisa Houston at 360-394-3689. Follow this link for photos: http://arisahouston.com/Images/kaileyharp.jpg For sale: Lever harp, 31 strings, made from a Music Maker kit. Soundboard is hand-painted with two black swans. Owner is no longer able to play, and will include music stand, music, tuning key, and tuner with the instrument. $1,000. Contact Lynn Curran, 206-735-5027 (Renton Highlands area). For sale: Thormahlen Swan 36-string lever harp. Made in 2001. Cherry with abalone inlay around soundboard. Concert tension with concert gut strings (reinforced soundboard) and custom bass wires (made by Robinson's). Full Loveland levers. Very good condition, beautiful tone, gorgeous wood. A rare find. Price reduced: $4200. Includes dark green nylon case, dust cover, and tuning key. Pictures and/or video can be emailed upon request. Contact Cynthia at crkuni@comcast.net or 206-909-5844. For sale: Prelude – 38 strings, Mahogany. 1st Octave E to 6th Octave C. The Prelude features string spacing and tension similar to a pedal harp. A scalloped bronze-finished crown and matching claw feet enhance the beauty. Valued in 2009 at $4,490. Sale Price $4,200. Contact Lu Buranen at 253-564-2741. For rent: Triplett Sierra 30, partially levered. $45/month. Alishia Joubert, henzeharper@gmail.com.

For rent: Triplett 30 string Axline fully levered folk harp. Excellent condition, great tension. $35 per month. Susan McLain at 206 932-1861 or Greensleevesharp@aol.com For rent: Dusty Strings Double Strung Harp Maple/Cherry. Fully levered. Bold sound. With case. $35 per month. Contact Susan McLain at 206 932-1861 or email GreensleevesHarp@aol.com. Wanted: A used electric lever harp. Camac Electroharp, Baby Blue, or similar, decent shape, does not need to be like-new. carol.levin@ppgnw.org. OTHER For sale: Lightly used 1/2 size cello with bow, "Cushy" case with wheels and backpack straps, and handsome wood stand with velvet lining, beginning book. $650 plus tax. Pat Jaeger, (206) 525-7682, NE Seattle.

FUN STUFF

Another backward harp!!

Merry Christmas!

From The New Yorker, Oct. 20, 2014 STRING THEORY An eloquent Israeli harpist’s French accent.

There is no shortage of distinctive virtuosity among today’s finest classical harp players: consider the

crystalline precision of the Berlin Philharmonic’s renowned principal, Marie-Pierre Langlamet; the

exuberant inventiveness of the young American soloist Bridget Kibbey; or the impulsive yet elegant

playing of the up-and-coming French musician Emmanuel Ceysson. But what sets Sivan Magen, the

first Israeli to win his country’s prestigious International Harp Contest, apart from his peers is a quality

rarely associated with the instrument: eloquence.

Growing up in Jerusalem, Magen didn’t know any young harpists. But it was his dream to take

up the instrument, and at the age of twelve, when his family moved to France, Magen seized his

chance. (He returned later to study at the Paris Conservatory.) Magen’s artistic development has been

influenced by his strong and sustained interest in chamber music (he’s co-founder of the Israeli

Chamber Project), and by the years he spent playing the piano before and after he began studying the

harp. In addition, both of Magen’s parents are cellists, and it’s remarkable how the most memorable

aspects of his personal style – his rich, full tone and lyrical, long-breathed phrasing – are classic

features of fine string playing.

[The article went on to describe Sivan’s then-upcoming concert at Carnegie Hall, ending with

this:] Don’t be surprised if you’re swept away by Magen’s transcriptions of two of Brahms’s

Intermezzos for piano, Op. 116: Magen has somehow captured the shadowy, haunted emotions of the

composer’s late style, a world far removed from the glittering salons of Paris.

-Russell Platt